A solid band of rain looks set to move into western and northern New Zealand later today.

During our 12 Noon update the area of rain spreads mostly off shore from the Far North down to the West Coast. 

Patchy rain has already come onshore across the South Island’s west and north west coast while rain is now moving into the Far North, north of Kaitaia.

As of 12 noon a band of showers has also appeared over inland Canterbury.

Everywhere in between should see drizzle or light showers developing later today turning to a period of rain tonight with humid northerlies picking up.

The band of rain is still expected to reach dry east coast farms but the Weather Watch Centre estimates it wont be enough to reverse the drying trends.  However head weather analyst Philip Duncan says the rain will certainly be welcome.  “Some dry farms may see several mms of rain tonight or tomorrow…some higher up may receive double figures.  That’s certainly useful and what we really need is for that secondary low later in the week to reach these parched areas too”.